Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-10-21
HOW TED GOT EVEN.
BY RYE JOHNSON.

BY RYE JOHNSON.
Uncle Sam Lusted had been a sailor
many years. and his collection of rare
and curious things from all parts of the
globe was we'll worth seeing.
Two long rooms in the great house
were especially devoted to them, and
we loved to gather there on rainy days
Gussie and ], who are twins, and as
like as two rosebuds, $50 Cousin Kent
always said) had lived with uncle ever
since we were made orphans by fear
full railway accident We were too
young to remember it, and now were II.
There was another orphan cousin,
Ted Clarkson, who was also q mem Der
of the family.
Uncle had but one child, Cousin
Kent, who was now grave-faccd man
of 26, already q p1acticing physician
and great favorite all through the
neighboring country.
Ted was just at the imp age, IA, and
an adept in mischief Ted was con-
slant grief to me, for he never could
tell Gussie and me apart, and was al
ways giving my messages or letters and
everything else to her. But he rarely
gave hers to mo, so 1 never quite be-
lieved him innocent in the matter.
She had lover, but [ had none, and
of all the comical mistakes you ever
heard Ted was constantly getting him
into.
He was the minister, and trife near
sighted. l never could bear him, for
he was small and slight, almost girlish,
with slow, sweet way about him, that
captivated all the old women and
Gussie.
But really disliked him, and when
on several occasions he mistook me for
her, it gave me the "creeps." Once he
took me in his arms, and was about to
kiss me, when l gave him a ringing
slap that startled him broad awake for
| once
l was ashamed when he apologized
SO sweetly, but he never attempted
any more caresses until he was sure
(which was which"
Ted and 1 were good friends, and at,
ter Gussie became victim of the ten.
der passion, we became constant com.
panions. We lived in a large, old.
fashioned house in the edge OF town.
1 There were great stretches of forest
on two sides, where summers we wan.
dered and lost ourselves. A fine lake,
only half mile away, furnished boat
ing and skating in season, and high
hill on one bank the grandest kind Of
coasting.
Uncle Sam and Aunt Kate let us run
wild, only requiring gentlemanly and
ladylike behavior on all occasions, and
uninterrupted attendance at the school
which only kept five months each year.
We bad plenty of time for mischief,
and we'll we improved it.
Cousin Kent used to reprove me
sometimes for my wildness, but one
day / saucilv called him an old man
and begged him to let us be young
while we could.
do l seem SO very old to you?" he
asked, half sadly.
| "lou act older than Uncle SAM"
replied, and then hated myself for it.
he looked so troubled and turned sc
abruptly away.
[ sprang after him, flung my arms
about his neck, and drew his handsome
face to mine.
81 did not mean it, dear Kent. You
are just darling when you don,
scold," and kissed him impulsively on
the lips.
TO my surprise, deep flush crcpt
over his face, and he pushed me away.
Don't do that" he cried, his face
becoming white in contrast to its pre-.
vious color.
stood amazed and cross. To be re-
pulsed when l wished to make friends
was more than l could bear with any
sort OF patience.
II will go with Ted no1r, anyway, >
and rushed away.
He had heard of some tom-boy frolit
we had on hand, and had been per,
suading me not to go.
flung Off up garret to favorite hid
ing place had, where even Ted had
never intruded as yet. There / always
went when my "moods" were on, and
stayed until l was good-natured again.
There l sat a long time on that day
puzzling my brain over Kent's odd be.
havior. At last l came to the con.
clusion that he thought me bold and
unmaidenly for kissing him. That ]
had shocked his exalted ideas Of
maidenly modesty. A hot flush dye(
; my face at the thought, and vowed tc
! be circumspection itself toward him il
the future.
Ted called me many times, while ]
sat there, and finally saw him go ava,
to the lake alone, looking cross anc
out of patience.